Dispirooxindole-β-Lactams: Synthesis via Staudinger Ketene-Imine Cycloaddition and Biological Evaluation

In this work, we present the first synthesis of dispirooxindole-β-lactams employing optimized methodology of one-pot Staudinger ketene-imine cycloaddition with N-aryl-2-oxo-pyrrolidine-3-carboxylic acids as the ketene source. Spiroconjugation of indoline-2-one with β-lactams ring is considered to be able to provide stabilization and wide scope of functionalization to resulting scaffolds. The dispipooxindoles obtained demonstrated medium cytotoxicity in the MTT test on A549, MCF7, HEK293, and VA13 cell lines, and one of the compounds demonstrated antibacterial activity against E. coli strain LPTD.     

Sperm of Fruit Fly Drosophila melanogaster under Space Flight

Studies of reproductive function under long-term space flight conditions are of interest in planning the exploration of deep space. Motility, including the use of various inhibitors, cellular respiration, and the content of cytoskeletal proteins were studied, assessing the level of expression of the corresponding genes in spermatozoa of Drosophila melanogaster, which were in space flight conditions for 12 days. The experiment was carried out twice on board the Russian Segment of the International Space Station. Sperm motility speed after space flight, and subsequently 16 h after landing, is reduced relative to the control by 20% (p < 0.05). In comparison with the simulation experiment, we showed that this occurs as a result of the action of overloads and readaptation to the Earth’s gravity. At the same time, cellular respiration, the content of proteins of the respiratory chain, and the expression of their genes do not change. We used kinase inhibitor 6-(dimethylamino)purine (6-DMAP) and phosphatase inhibitors; 6-DMAP restored the reduced the speed of spermatozoa in the flight group to that of the control. These results can be useful in developing a strategy for protecting reproductive health during the development of other bodies in the solar system.     

Specific features of oxygen electroreduction on platinized carbon black-functionalized carbon nanotube composite

The electrochemical behavior of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) containing functional surface groups has been studied by the methods of cyclic voltammetry and direct-current polarography with stationary and rotating disk electrodes. The surface catalytic activity of supported platinum in the reaction of molecular oxygen electroreduction and the influence of functionalized MWCNTs on this process were determined.     

Distribution of vanadium and vanadyl porphyrins during fractionation of resins of heavy sulfurous oils

Features of the content and distribution of vanadium and vanadyl porphyrins in the fractions of resins, which were obtained by separation using column chromatography on silica, have been studied on heavy sulfurous oils of various deposits of the Volga–Ural basin (Russia). The difference of the vanadium and vanadyl porphyrin contents in the fractions of oils of various production complexes has been shown. Features of structural–group composition and predominant types of vanadyl porphyrins in the fractions of resins have been determined.     

Activity and stereospecificity of cobalt-methylaluminoxane catalyst in butadiene polymerization

Butadiene polymerization in aliphatic and aromatic solvents mediated by a preliminarily formed catalyst consisting of cobalt 2-ethylhexanoate, methylaluminoxane, and diene was studied. It was shown that the catalyst was active at a molar ratio of methylaluminoxane: cobalt: diene = 75?200:1:20, yielding high-molecular-mass polymers (intrinsic viscosity, 1.8–2.7 dl/g) containing at least 98% cis-1,4-units. Preliminary formation of the catalyst was found to increase its activity in butadiene polymerization at a low Al:Co ratio. In this case, the catalyst retains its high stereospecificity (the amount of cis-1,4-units in the polymer reaches 98% and more) independently of the nature of the solvent used for polymerization.     

Functional Free‐Standing Graphene Honeycomb Films

Fabricating free‐standing, three‐dimensional (3D) ordered porous graphene structure can service a wide range of functional materials such as environmentally friendly materials for antibacterial medical applications and efficient solar harvesting devices. A scalable solution processable strategy is developed to create such free‐standing hierarchical porous structures composed of functionalized graphene sheets via an “on water spreading” method. The free‐standing film shows a large area uniform honeycomb structure and can be transferred onto any substrate of interest. The graphene‐based free‐standing honeycomb films exhibit superior broad spectrum antibacterial activity as confirmed using green fluorescent protein labeled Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 and Escherichia coli as model pathogens. Functional nanoparticles such as titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles can be easily introduced into conductive graphene‐based scaffolds by premixing. The formed composite honeycomb film electrode shows a fast, stable, and completely reversible photocurrent response accompanying each switch‐on and switch‐off event. The graphene‐based honeycomb scaffold enhances the light‐harvesting efficiency and improves the photoelectric conversion behavior; the photocurrent of the composite film is about two times as high as that of the pure TiO₂ film electrode. Such composite porous films combining remarkably good electrochemical performance of graphene, a large electrode/electrolyte contact area, and excellent stability during the photo‐conversion process hold promise for further applications in water treatment and solar energy conversion.     

Carbon Segregation in CoCrFeMnNi High-Entropy Alloy Driven by High-Pressure Torsion at Room and Cryogenic Temperatures

Herein, a CoCrFeMnNi high-entropy alloy with reduced Cr content and with the addition of 2 at% C interstitial is processed via high-pressure torsion (HPT) under 6.5 GPa by three turns at room and cryogenic temperatures. The microstructure is investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atom probe tomography (APT). The results indicate that C atoms segregate at the boundaries of the nanograins in the sample processed at room temperature, while the sample processed at cryogenic temperature does not show any notable segregations of carbon.     

天然和热变性乳铁蛋白与α-乳白蛋白聚集体的超分子结构表征

本文在pH6.5磷酸盐缓冲溶液中研究了热变性前后牛乳铁蛋白(bovine lactoferrin,LF)和α-乳白蛋白(α-lactalbumin,ALA)之间的自组装行为。采用ζ-电位、浊度法、动态光散射、光学显微镜、荧光光谱和红外色谱等方法进行表征。结果表明,与天然LF和ALA自组装复合物相比,热变性LF和ALA自组装复合物的ζ-电位较低。天然LF与ALA可以自组装可形成纳米颗粒,粒径最大为(35.24±0.82) nm;经过热变性的LF与ALA自组装形成超分子结构,通过调整ALA浓度,可以得到亚微米和微米颗粒,颗粒粒径最大为(4.11±0.14) μm。天然LF与ALA的复合物均为球状聚集体,分布均一;而热变性LF与ALA的复合物则为网状聚集体,分布不均一。ALA的添加增强了LF中色氨酸残基的疏水性。LF中的C=O和C-N基团均参与了与ALA_{25 ℃}的相互作用。本研究为构建新型双蛋白自组装体及理解双蛋白组装机制提供了理论依据。     

Decellularization of Human Pancreatic Fragments with Pronounced Signs of Structural Changes

A significant lack of donor organs restricts the opportunity to obtain tissue-specific scaffolds for tissue-engineering technologies. One of the acceptable solutions is the development of decellularization protocols for a human donor pancreas unsuitable for transplantation. A protocol of obtaining a biocompatible tissue-specific scaffold from decellularized fragments with pronounced human pancreas lipomatosis signs with preserved basic fibrillary proteins of a pancreatic tissue extracellular matrix was developed. The scaffold supports the adhesion and proliferation of human adipose derived stem cell (hADSCs) and prolongs the viability and insulin-producing function of pancreatic islets. Experiments conducted allow for the reliance on the prospects of using the donor pancreas unsuitable for transplantation in the technologies of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, including the development of a tissue equivalent of a pancreas.